Brutal as American senator is pushed out of Trump’s official press conference
A dramatic confrontation unfolded at a federal building in Los Angeles on Thursday when U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) was forcibly removed from a press conference hosted by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Padilla, a vocal critic of recent federal immigration crackdowns, attempted to question Secretary Noem during her remarks at the Wilshire Federal Building.
As he identified himself and approached the podium, security agents, wearing vests marked with FBI insignia, physically restrained and handcuffed the senator in full view of reporters.
“I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” he said, moments before being tackled and brought to the ground by the agents.”
“The incident was partially captured on video by Padilla’s staff. In the recording, a voice is heard warning them, “There’s no recording allowed out here,” before the footage abruptly ends.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security later claimed Padilla had “lunged” at Secretary Noem and was not visibly wearing his Senate security pin, an assertion contradicted by those who witnessed the incident and by the video evidence.
Assistant DHS Secretary, Trisha McLaughlin, defended the agents’ actions, stating that they believed Padilla posed a threat.
“The officers acted appropriately,” she said in a social media post, adding that the senator and Secretary Noem later met privately for a 15-minute conversation.
Noem, for her part, labeled the senator’s actions “inappropriate,” insisting he had not sought a formal meeting in advance.
The incident sparked immediate outrage among Democratic leaders.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the use of force against a sitting senator, calling it “outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful.”
Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, echoed that sentiment, calling the removal “absolutely abhorrent.”
“This administration’s violent attacks on our city must end,” Bass said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also weighed in, demanding an official investigation into the incident.
“This reeks of totalitarianism,” he said. “Senator Padilla was acting within his rights to question what is happening in his own state.”
The press conference followed nearly a week of growing unrest in Los Angeles, triggered by a controversial immigration enforcement campaign launched under the Trump administration.
Though most protests have been peaceful, there have been isolated incidents of violence, including arson and clashes with law enforcement.
In response, the White House authorized the deployment of nearly 5,000 federal troops to the city, despite objections from local leaders and the LAPD, who insist they can manage the situation.
